U.S. patent number 4,592,536 [Application Number 06/515,395] was granted by the patent office on 1986-06-03 for apparatus for distributing a stack of roof panels atop a roof.
Invention is credited to Donald W. Jasinski.
United States Patent |
4,592,536 |
Jasinski |
June 3, 1986 |
Apparatus for distributing a stack of roof panels atop a roof
Abstract
Apparatus for moving a load, particularly a stack of panels,
along a roof structure, including a plurality of spaced-apart roof
rafters and transverse purlins comprising: a roof-mounted rail for
mounting on said roof in vertical alignment with a purlin, a
load-carrying cart comprising a carriage having rollers movable
along the rail, and a load-carrying platform mounted on the
carriage for longitudinal and vertical movement relative thereto
including an inverted U-shaped elongate channel member. Mechanism
is provided for relatively longitudinally moving the load-carrying
platform and the carriage between rest positions and longitudinally
displaced positions. The carriage and load-carrying platform
include cooperating camming rollers and cam receiving slots which
upwardly guide the platform relative to the carriage as the
carriage and platform are relatively longitudinally moved, to lift
the load relative to the roof structure for subsequent rolling
movement via the carriage on the track. One aspect of the invention
includes an inverted U-shaped load support platform which spans the
track and the cart and underlies the load to support the load when
the load-carrying platform is in the rest position but is moveable
upwardly with the load when the platform is moved to the raised
level. Another aspect of the present invention includes a stop bar
plate on the rail, engageable by the cart after the cart and rail
have relatively moved a predetermined distance. When the
load-carrying platform is at the lowered level and the operator
continues to bodily move the cart, the rail is longitudinally moved
with the cart, to provide a track which has an effective length
much greater than its actual length.
Inventors: |
Jasinski; Donald W. (Saginaw,
MI) |
Family
ID: |
24051185 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/515,395 |
Filed: |
July 20, 1983 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
254/8R; 104/247;
254/17 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D
15/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04D
15/00 (20060101); E04D 15/04 (20060101); B60P
001/48 () |
Field of
Search: |
;254/8R,8B,8C,17,120
;104/118,119,162,245,247 ;414/495 ;280/43,17 ;238/1R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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239828 |
|
Aug 1963 |
|
AT |
|
898950 |
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Mar 1953 |
|
DE |
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Primary Examiner: Schmidt; Frederick R.
Assistant Examiner: Hartman; Judy J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Swartz; John J.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. Apparatus for hauling a stacked bundle of roof panels atop a
building roof structure having a plurality of generally parallel,
spaced-apart rafters, said apparatus comprising:
track means for mounting on a roof structure;
at least one panel support cart, comprising: carriage means
including
an inner, downwardly opening, inverted U-shaped elongate channel
member including a first base member overlying said track means and
a first pair of laterally spaced-apart, longitudinally extending
legs depending therefrom;
roller means mounted on said inner channel for rollingly engaging
said track means; and
load carrying platform means mounted on said carriage means for
longitudinal and vertical movement relative thereto, including
an outer, downwardly opening inverted U-shaped elongate channel
member including a second base member overlying said first base
member and a second pair of laterally spaced-apart, longitudinally
extending legs depending therefrom laterally outwardly of said
first pair of legs;
means coupled to and reacting between said carriage means and said
load-carrying platform means for relatively longitudinally moving
said carriage means and said load carrying platform means between
rest positions and longitudinally displaced positions; and
means reacting between and responsive to relative longitudinal
movement of said carriage means and said load-carrying platform
means for vertically guiding said load-carrying platform means
between lowered and raised levels as said carriage means and said
load-carrying platform means are relatively moved between said rest
and longitudinally displaced positions, to lift a stacked bundle of
panels, comprising;
vertically upwardly inclined slots in said first pair of legs and
laterally extending cylindrical roller means spanning said second
pair of legs and received by said upwardly inclined slots in said
first pair of legs; and
means for moving said track means relative to said stacked bundle
of roof panels as said cart continues to by bodily longitudinally
moved after a predetermined relative longitudinal movement of said
cart and said track means and said platfrom means and said carriage
means are in said rest positions including
means mounted on a downstream portion of said track means in the
path of said cart to contact said cart such that further
longitudinal movement of said carriage means forces movement of
said track means.
2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said means mounted on
said track means comprises a Z-shaped plate.
3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said means mounted on
said track means comprises an upstanding plate having an offset
terminal end projecting toward said carriage at a level above said
track means.
4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said cart includes
further roller means rotatable about an axis normal to the
rotational axis of said first mentioned roller means, for rollingly
engaging the lateral surfaces of said track means to preclude
lateral shifting of said cart when said cart is mounted on an
inclined roof.
5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said rollers are
rotatably mounted on said cart about vertical axes for rollingly
engaging laterally opposite sides of said track.
6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for
relatively longitudinally moving said carriage means and said
platform means comprises an elongate upstanding handle pivotally
mounted on one of said carriage means and said platform means, and
further including coupling means pivotally coupled to said handle
means and the other said carriage means and platform means.
7. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 further including portable
support means, removably mountable on a roof, for supporting a
bundle when said platform means and said carriage means are in said
rest positions, comprising a pair of upstanding, longitudinally
extending, laterally spaced rails on laterally opposite sides of
said platform means, and plate means spanning and fixed to said
rails, at a level such that said platform means, in said lowered
position, is at a level below said plate means but said plate means
will be carried by said platform means when said platform means at
said elevated level.
8. The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said side
rails comprises an elongate L-shaped rail member.
9. Apparatus for hauling a stacked bundle of roof panels atop a
building roof structure having a plurality of generally parallel,
spaced-apart rafters, said apparatus comprising:
track means for mounting on a roof structure;
at least one panel support cart, comprising: carriage means
including
an inner, downwardly opening, inverted U-shaped elongate channel
member including a first base member and a first pair of laterally
spaced-apart, longitudinally extending legs depending
therefrom;
roller means mounted on said inner channel for rollingly engaging
said track means; and
load carrying platform means mounted on said carriage means for
longitudinal and vertical movement relative thereto, including
an outer, downwardly opening inverted U-shaped elongate channel
member including a second base member overlying said first base
member and a second pair of laterally spaced-apart, longitudinally
extending legs depending therefrom laterally outwardly of said
first pair of legs;
means coupled to and reacting between said carriage means and said
load-carrying platform means for relatively longitudinally moving
said carriage means and said load carrying platform means between
rest positions and longitudinally displaced positions;
means reacting between and responsive to relative longitudinal
movement of said carriage means and said load-carrying platform
means for vertically guiding said load-carrying platform means
between lowered and raised levels as said carriage means and said
load-carrying means are relatively moved between said rest and
longitudinally displaced positions, to lift a stacked bundle of
panels, comprising;
vertically inclined slot means in one of said first and second pair
of legs and laterally extending pin means on the other of said
first and second pair of legs received by said slot means;
support means, mountable on said roof, for supporting a stacked
bundle of roof panels when said platform means and carriage means
are in said rest positions, comprising a pair of upstanding,
longitudinally extending, laterally spaced rails on laterally
opposite sides of said platform means, and plate means spanning
said rails, at a level such that said platform means, in said
lowered position, is at a level below said plate means but said
plate means will be carried by said platform means when said
platform means is at said raised level; and
means for longitudinally moving said track means with said cart as
said cart continues to be bodily longitudinally moved and said
platform means and said carriage means are in said rest positions
including means mounted on a downstream portion of said track means
in the path of said cart to contact a portion of said cart such
that said track means is moved as the cart is moved.
10. The apparatus set forth in claim 9 wherein said means mounted
on said track includes an upstanding plate having an offset
terminal end.
11. The apparatus set forth in claim 9 wherein said means for
relatively moving said carriage means and said platform means
comprises upstanding handle means, and said offset terminal end
includes a central notch for receiving a portion of said handle
means.
12. The apparatus set forth in claim 9 wherein said stop means
comprises a stop member, mounted at one end of said track, having
an upper offset terminal portion disposed in the path of said
cart.
13. The apparatus set forth in claim 12 wherein said means for
relatively longitudinally moving said carriage means and said
platform means comprises upstanding handle means pivotally coupled
to said carriage means and to said platform means; said offset
terminal portion including a notch for receiving said handle
means.
14. The apparatus set forth in claim 13 wherein said stop means
comprises a Z-shaped plate having a lower oppositely extending
offset end portion coupled to said track.
15. Apparatus for supporting and moving a load, such as a stack of
roof panels, on a surface, such as a building roof, having a
plurality of spaced-apart, generally parallel roof rafters, said
apparatus comprising:
a longitudinally extending track for lying on said surface;
inverted U-shaped load support means for supporting said load at a
level above said surface comprising laterally spaced-apart rails on
laterally opposite sides of said track, and plate means, vertically
spaced from said track, spanning said rails;
a cart for lifting said load and said load support means,
including:
carriage means provided with roller means for rolling on said
track;
load-carrying platform means mounted on said carriage means for
longitudinal and vertical movement relative thereto between a
lowered, rest position and an elevated, longitudinally spaced
position;
means for moving said platform means between said rest position and
said longitudinally spaced position, including
handle means coupled to said carriage means and said load-carrying
means for relatively longitudinally moving said load-carrying means
and said carriage means; and
means reacting between said carriage means and said platform means
for moving said platform means between a lowered level and a higher
level as said carriage means and said load-carrying means
relatively longitudinally move to upwardly move said load support
means and the load supported thereby; and
stop means on said track for longitudinally moving said track with
as said cart continues to be longitudinally moved in a direction
toward said stop and said platform means is in said rest position
including means mounted on a downstream portion of one of said
track and said cart engageable with said cart to contact a portion
of carriage means and said such that a predetermined relative
longitudinal movement of said cart forces movement of said track.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus for distributing a stack of
roof panels atop a building roof structure, either during initial
construction or while existing roof panels are being replaced, and
more particularly to a new and novel self-loading "low height" cart
which will lift a relatively heavy, roof-mounted stack of panels to
an elevated position relative to the underlying roof structure,
transport the stack along a rail secured atop the roof to any
selected one of a plurality of different positions on the roof, and
then lower the stack at an adjusted position on the roof.
2. Description of the Prior Art and Objects of the Invention
Steel buildings are conventionally constructed with a "red iron"
frame having a roof structure which includes an underlying matrice
comprising a plurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart
relatively heavy roof rafters and a plurality of relatively
lightweight, transversely extending, panel support stringers or
purlins. The rafters of a typical steel building may be 24 to 30
feet apart, whereas the transversely extending purlins, which are
substantially lighter than the relatively heavy rafters, may
typically be spaced at five foot intervals. Conventionally, the
rafters are covered with steel roof panels which are initially
delivered to the roof in a stacked bundle. Lifting cranes have
sometimes been employed heretofore for supplying the stacked bundle
to the roof structure and then distributing the individual panels
about the roof area.
Steel roof panels are typically provided in banded bundles which
the workers sometimes previously "rolled" over the roof purlins
onto the portion of the roof panels which they had just laid. To
accomplish this, the workers heretofore walked on the underlying
purlins. This maneuver is relatively dangerous, difficult and
time-consuming, and interferes with the laying of the roof
panels.
A prior art roof panel distributing cart, sold under the trademark
"Magic Roofer", has been provided heretofore but is relatively
complicated and includes clamps and rollers which must be assembled
on the roof. With the prior art "Magic Roofer" cart, the roof
panels were loaded on the end of the roof, opposite the start end,
and then moved the entire length of the roof.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide
new and novel apparatus for moving bundles of roof panels atop the
roof panels which were just laid without damaging the previously
laid roof panels.
It is another object of the present invention to provide new and
novel apparatus for distributing roof panels atop a roof by the
bundle via a portable cart and a portable track on which the cart
rides.
It is another object of the present invention to provide new and
novel bundle moving apparatus which will minimize the manpower
required to distribute roof panels on a roof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus
for distributing roof panels, by the bundle, on a roof, either
while the building is being built or during a roof re-covering
operation, which apparatus will raise the relatively heavy bundles
a short distance relative to the roof frame and, then, by means of
rollers provided thereon, transport the bundles atop a rail, which
is mounted atop the roof structure.
The apparatus constructed according to the present invention
contemplates a carriage including an inner, downwardly opening,
inverted U-shaped, elongate channel member mounting rollers for
rollingly engaging a roof-supported track member, a load-carrying
platform mounted on the carriage for longitudinal and vertical
movement relative thereto, including an outer, downwardly opening
inverted U-shaped, elongate channel which mounts guide rollers that
are received in guide slots for upwardly urging the platform to
elevate the roof-supported stack of panels as the platform and the
carriage are relatively longitudinally moved via a pivotally
mounted handle.
Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to
provide new and novel cart apparatus of the type described,
including cooperating slots on one of the carriage and the
load-carrying platform and laterally extending roller pins mounted
on the other of the carriage and the platform and received by the
slots for guiding the relative vertical paths of travel of the
platform and the underlying carriage as the platform and underlying
carriage are relatively longitudinally moved.
The present invention contemplates an elongate handle pivotally
mounted on one of the carriage and the load-carrying platform and a
coupling member coupled between the handle and the other of the
carriage and load-carrying platform to relatively longitudinally
move the load-carrying platform and the carriage for upwardly
camming the platform to lift the load relative to the underlying
roof structure. Once the load has been lifted, the handle will
substantially unassistedly remain in the load-lifting position,
without the necessity of a lock.
The apparatus constructed according to the present invention
further contemplates a bundle support frame which is mounted on the
roof and includes a generally inverted U-shaped support member
which overlies the track and underlies and supports the stack of
roof panels a sufficient distance to permit the track-mounted cart
to pass thereunder. The inverted U-shaped support will be elevated
and carried by the cart as the stack is moved and, thus, the
support platform will remain in a position underlying the stack, as
the stack is lowered in the reset position. Accordingly, the user
can move the stack along the length of the underlying rail and
reset it in an adjusted position, without the necessity of having
additional workers move the underlying stack support platform.
The present invention further contemplates the use of an upstanding
bracket or stop, mounted on a "stop-end" of the roof-mounted track,
having a portion thereof in the path of the cart such that, when
the cart reaches the "stop end" of the track, the user can set the
bundle and the underlying U-shaped bundle support on the roof and
then continue bodily movement of the entire cart relative to the
bundle and support. As the cart continues to be bodily moved
relative to the bundle and support, it engages the upstanding
track-supported bracket, whereby the underlying track will be
carried thereby to the next longitudinally adjusted position in
which the end opposite the "stop end" is drawn to a position
underlying the stack. The user will then merely return the cart, in
an opposite direction, on the repositioned track to a position
underlying the inverted U-shaped stack support member and stack and
will operate the cart handle to lift the platform relative to the
carriage and again raise the stack so that it can be moved along
the length of the repositioned underlying track. By repeating this
operation, the relatively short rail is repositioned along the
entire length of the roof to provide a continuous effective length
which is much greater than its actual length.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide
new and novel cart-loading and moving apparatus of the type
described, including an underlying track, which is substantially
shorter than the length of the roof, and cooperating mechanism on
the track and cart for repositioning the track to provide a
continuous track the entire length of the roof.
Various low height trolleys have been provided heretofore for
handling heavy articles such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
2,546,539 issued to M. H. Fehn on Mar. 27, 1951; U.S. Pat. No.
2,638,354 issued to H. J. Larson, et al on May 12, 1953; U.S. Pat.
No. 2,981,350 issued to R. L. Zouck, et al on April 25, 1961; and
U.S. Pat. No. 3,091,477 issued to G. B. Johnstone on May 28, 1963.
None of these patentees disclose applicant's construction and do
not even appreciate the problems which applicant has solved.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art as the description
thereof proceeds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Apparatus for distributing bundles of panels, such as steel roof
panels, atop a building roof structure, comprising: At least one
guide rail for mounting on the roof structure; at least one panel
support cart comprising an inner, downwardly opening, channel
member including a base and a pair of downwardly extending legs; an
outer downwardly opening, inverted U-shaped channel member,
juxtaposed above the inner channel member, including a base and a
pair of downwardly extending legs depending therefrom; the legs of
the inner channel member including upwardly inclined slots;
transversely extending pins, mounted on the legs of the outer
channel member and received by the inclined slots; a plurality of
track-engaging rollers mounted on the legs of the inner channel
member; and mechanism for relatively longitudinally moving the
inner and outer channel members, whereby the pins are guided
upwardly by the slots to raise the upper U-shaped channel member to
an elevated bundle-elevating position relative to the inner channel
member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention may be more readily understood by referring to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating apparatus constructed
according to the present invention mounted atop a roof
structure;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view, turned end-for-end, of one of
the carts illustrated in FIG. 1, part of the cart being broken away
to more particularly illustrate the underlying track, rollers and
mounting structure;
FIG. 3 is a sectional side view thereof, taken along the line 3--3
of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a further enlarged sectional end view, taken along the
line 4--4 of FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Apparatus constructed according to the present invention, generally
designated 10, is particularly adapted for use in moving a bundle
or stack, schematically illustrated at S, of individual roof panels
P atop a roof structure, generally designated 12, including a
plurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart, relatively heavy
steel roof rafters 14, mounting a plurality of transverse,
overlying, spaced-apart, relatively lightweight steel purlins 15.
The steel rafters 14 and purlins 15 form the upper portion of a
lattice frame F, commonly referred to as a "red-iron" frame. A
layer of heating insulation is laid between the rafters 14, as
usual. Mounted atop the roof purlins 15, as illustrated in FIG. 4,
is a plurality of installed roof panels P extending from the ridge
to the eve of the roof. Each panel P typically includes a recessed,
longitudinally extending center portion 18 (FIG. 1) and upstanding,
longitudinally extending side interlock sections 20 which interlock
with the adjacent complementally formed interlock portions 20 of
the adjacent panels P.
The apparatus 10 constructed according to the present invention
includes a pair of spaced-apart rails or tracks, generally
designated 21, extending transversely of the upstanding panel
interlock portions 20. The rails or tracks 21 may each suitably
comprise a 2".times.6" wood rail mounted in vertical alignment with
an underlying purlin 15. As illustrated, the length of each rail 21
is substantially less than the length of the roof.
The apparatus 10 includes a pair of roof-mounted stack support
stands, generally designated 22, each including a pair of laterally
spaced-apart, L-shaped, elongate side frame members 23 mounted on
laterally opposite sides of rail 21, spanned by a stack support
plate 24 which supports the stack S of roof panels P in
vertically-spaced relation with the underlying roof structure
12.
Apparatus is provided for lifting the stack support stands 22 and
the stack S of panels P supported thereby and moving same along the
track or rail 21 in the direction of the arrow 26, and includes a
pair of carts, generally designated 28. Each cart 28 includes a
rail-mounted carriage, generally designated 29, and a vertically
juxtaposed load-carrying platform, generally designated 31, which
is mounted on the carriage 29 for longitudinal and vertical
movement relative thereto. Each carriage 29 includes an inverted,
elongate, U-shaped channel member, generally designated 30, having
an elongate base member 32 and a pair of elongate legs 34 depending
therefrom at opposite sides of the rail or track 21. The carriage
29 includes a plurality of track-engaging rollers 36 each
journaled, via bearings 38, on a transversely extending shaft 40
which spans the depending channel legs 34.
Each overlying load-carrying platform 31 comprises another
downwardly opening, inverted, U-shaped elongate channel member,
generally designated 42, including a base member 44, generally
overlying base member 32, and a pair of laterally spaced-apart,
elongate legs 46 depending therefrom laterally outwardly of the
legs 34. The platform 31 is supported on the carriage 29 via a
plurality of roller bars 48 which are journaled in bearing blocks
49 mounted on the outer channel legs 46. The roller bars 48 are
received in vertically rearwardly, upwardly inclined guide slots 50
provided along the length of the inner dependent legs 34.
Apparatus, generally designated 52, is provided for longitudinally
relatively moving each load-carrying platform 31 relative to the
carriage 29 and includes a generally upstanding handle member 54
having a transversly extending hollow tube 56 journaled on an
internal shaft 58 which spans a pair of side channel frame members
60 fixed to the inner channel legs 34. The internal shaft 58 is
detachably mounted to the frame members 60 via pins 61.
A pair of coupling straps 62 are pivotally connected to the handle
54, via a pivot pin 64, and to the load-carrying platform 31, via a
pivot pin 66, which is mounted on a plate 68 extending rearwardly
from the upper channel base member 44.
As the handle 52 is moved clockwisely, in the direction of the
arrow 70 (FIG. 3), from the position illustrated in solid lines in
FIG. 3 to the position illustrated in chain lines in FIG. 3, the
upper load-carrying platform 31 will move rearwardly, in the
direction of the arrow 72 relative to the underlying carriage 29.
As the load-carrying platform 31 moves rearwardly, the guide
rollers 48 will ride in slots 50, to be cammed upwardly from the
position illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 3 to the position
illustrated in chain lines in FIG. 2, to an elevated position in
which the platform 22 and the stack S has been raised to a level
spaced from the roof structure 12. Due to the relationship of the
parts, the platform 22 will substantially unassistedly remain in
the elevated position without any substantial downward force being
exerted on handle 54. The operator then need only pull on the
handle, in the direction of the arrow 26, to move the cart 28, the
stack support stand 22, and the stack S along the track 21.
When the stack S has been longitudinally moved to any selected
suitable position on the rail 21, the handle 52 is swingably
returned from the position illustrated in chain lines to the
position illustrated in solid lines in FIGS. 3 and 4, and the
entire load platform 22 and stack S is returned to the position
illustrated in solid lines in FIGS. 3 and 4, supported by the roof
structure 12.
A plurality of side "corner" rollers 76 are rotatably mounted on
vertical spindles 78 which are fixed to the inner channel member
30. The axes of the spindles 78 are normal to the axes of the
shafts 40. The side rollers 76 bear against the side surfaces 21a
of the track 21 to inhibit lateral movement of the cart 28 relative
to the track 22 when the apparatus is used on a roof having a pitch
up to and including 4/12.
The carts 28 will thus carry both the load platform 22 and the
panel stacks to eliminate the necessity of additional workers
separately repositioning the load platform 22 when the stack S is
repositioned.
As the roof continues to be installed, the stack S is sequentially
repositioned along the length of rail 21. As the cart 28 approaches
the "stop" end 23 of the track 21, the operator could lay another
track in end-to-end relation with the track 21, but this would
necessitate yet additional "track" material being lifted onto the
roof structure.
The apparatus constructed according to the present invention
includes an upstanding Z-shaped bracket or plate, generally
designated 80, fixed to the "stop" end 23 of rail 21. The Z-shaped
bracket 80 includes a central upstanding plate portion 82 having an
offset lower end 84 fixed to the end 23 of the track 21, and an
upper, oppositely offset plate portion 86. The upper offset plate
portion 86 includes a central notch 88 which receives the lower end
57 of the handle 54 when the cart 28 is longitudinally moved into
engagement with the Z-shaped plate member 80. The handle 52 is
maintained in the upright position, and the entire cart 28 is then
bodily carried by the worker to drag the track 21 in the direction
of the arrow 72 relative to the roof-supported stack S. When the
track 21 has again been repositioned such that the end opposite
stop end 23 underlies the stack, the user will return the cart 28
on the repositioned track to the position illustrated in FIG. 3,
again underlying the support stand 22 and the stack S.
THE OPERATION
A pair of rails 21 are mounted atop the roof 12 in laterally spaced
relation. A pair of stack support members 22 are disposed on the
roof so as to straddle the rails 21. A stack S of panels P is
placed on the stack support members 22, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
With the handles 52 in the position illustrated in solid lines in
FIG. 3, the operator moves the carts 28 to positions underlying the
stack support members 22.
The cart handles 54 are then moved downwardly, in the direction of
the arrow 70, to the positions illustrated in chain lines in FIG.
3. As this occurs, the load-carrying platforms 31 will move
longitudinally relative to the carriage 29 and will concurrently be
cammed upwardly via the roller bars 48 which are received in the
upwardly inclined guide slots 50. The stack support members 22 and
stack S will thus be moved upwardly to the position illustrated in
chain lines in FIG. 4, in spaced relation with the roof. The load
will be supported via the track-engaging rollers 36 which bear
against the rails 21. The operator will then draw the handles 54 in
the direction of the arrow 26 to move the stack S and supports 22
to a longitudinally displaced position. When the stack S has been
moved a sufficient distance, the user will then move the handles 54
in the opposite direction, whereby the load-carrying platforms 31
will move in the longitudinally opposite direction and will
concurrently lower to reset the stack support members 22 on the
roof in a reset position.
This operation can be repeated until such time as the end of the
rail 21 is reached. The operator need then merely only, while the
handle 54 is in the upright position illustrated in solid lines in
FIG. 4, bodily move the entire carriage longitudinally so that the
lower end 57 of handle 54 will engage the Z-shaped bracket 80. As
the user continues to bodily move the cart, the track 21 will be
carried thereby to a position in which the upstream end, opposite
the stop end, is again positioned as illustrated in FIG. 1
underlying the stack S.
The operation can then be repeated.
It is to be understood that the drawings and descriptive matter are
in all cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the
principles of the invention, rather than as limiting the same in
any way, since it is contemplated that various changes may be made
in various elements to achieve like results without departing from
the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *